October 9, 2014

Dear Congress,

Preventable chronic disease is a huge burden in the United States, on both the economic and personal level. Chronic disease accounts for 70 percent of all deaths and 75 percent of all health care spending nationwide; by 2020, it is estimated that 157 million Americans will be living with chronic disease, with approximately half living with multiple chronic conditions.i,ii, iii

If current trends continue, by 2030 the United States could be spending an additional $66 billion per year on treating obesity-related conditions alone. While 7 in 10 deaths are due to these preventable chronic conditions, in 2011 only about 3% of health care funding was dedicated to prevention while 75% was spent on treatment. In contrast, every $1 spent through prevention programs to address physical activity, poor nutrition, and smoking cessation programs, the return on investment is $5.60; if we invest $10 per person in the U.S., we could save about $16 billion per year.iii

The Prevention and Public Health Fund, established in 2010 by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is the only dedicated funding for prevention and public health programs. Since its establishment, the Fund has invested $3.25 billion to support evidence-based community prevention activities, including:

-Reduction of tobacco use,

-Help controlling the obesity epidemic,

-Response to disease outbreaks,

-Training the nation's public health and health care workforce,

-Prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS,

-Expand access to vaccines, and more.

The Fund will provide an additional $13.5 billion over the next 10 years for these prevention efforts. However, $332.5 million has already been diverted away from the Fund for non-prevention activities. Further cuts would be an enormous step backwards in our progress on cost-containment, public health modernization, and wellness promotion.

As concerned students, faculty, and members of the community as well as your constituency, we ask that you publicly support the Prevention and Public Health Fund and ensure that allocated resources are maintained for prevention programs and not diverted to non-prevention activities. Shifting resources from the PPHF is not a viable long-term solution to preventing chronic conditions that are crippling our economy, and even more importantly, the American people.

Protect the Fund. Prevent Disease. Promote Health.

Sincerely,

The GW Colonials for Health

References

i. Kung HC, Hoyert DL, Xu JQ, Murphy SL. Deaths: final data for 2005. National Vital Statistics Reports 2008;56(10). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr56/nvsr56_10.pdf

ii. Institute of Medicine (2012). For the Public’s Health: Investing in a Healthier Future. Washington, DC. Available from http://www.iom.edu/reports/2012/for-the-publics-health-investion-in-a-healthier-future.aspx

iii. National Health Council. (July, 2014). About Chronic Diseases. Retrieved on October 9, 2014 from http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/NHC_Files/Pdf_Files/AboutChronicDisease.pdf

iv.Trust for America’s Health. (February, 2014) Prevention Fund Talking Points. Retrieved on October 9, 2014 from http://healthyamericans.org/health-issues/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/TPs-PPHF-7-16-13.pdf